Yogi Adityanath has a Gujarat connection, and it's not PM Narendra Modi

It was only recently announced by one of the members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), that the newly appointed chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath is likely going to be the star campaigner of Gujarat election alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah.

However, Yogi Adityanath’s connection with Gujarat goes straight back to his connection with his “gurubhai” who was born a Muslim in Jhalod but mahant of an ashram of Nath sampradaya in Visnagar, Gujarat. Mahant Gulabnath Bapu, fondly known as Adityanath’s Gurubhai was born as Gul Mohammad Pathan. He passed away at the age of 86 in December 2016. Furthermore, Yogi Adityanath was the person who reached Ashram to perform the last rites of his Guru.

The ashram has a number of temples under it and also has a special area where there is a provision of free food in Visnagar and Vadgam.

“Bapu was the sixth generation in guru-shishya lineage. His association with Mahant Avaidyanath of Gorakhpur math and guru of Aditya Nath Yogi was very old due to the dynamics of Nath sampradaya,” Times of India quoted the new mahant of the ashram, Sankarnath as saying.

“Bapu also considered Avaidyanath his guru and thus he considered Aditya Nath as his gurubhai. “Bapu was invited to Gorakhpur for every major event. When he went there last year, Aditya Nath had him felicitated by PM Narendra Modi,” he added.

He further affirmed that the Adityanath used to regularly call to check up on Bapu’s health. Sankarnath asserted that Yogi Adityanath was a young and energetic leader who valued traditions.